The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of official records concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration relented after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. The president signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though Trump has for months rejected the uproar over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he worried the measure would make public specific data of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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